Tuesday, August 20, 2013

IELTS Listening: nature or nurture?

The "nature or nurture" topic has appeared in different parts of the IELTS test. Do you know what "nature or nurture" means?

Watch the video and fill the gaps in the summary below.

We are all born with certain physical characteristics ______ by our genes. But does our DNA ______ how we act? Researchers say that genes help control how we ______ our environment, but can environment influence which genes are ______? That leads to debate over the role parents play in ______ their children. Some believe the stronger ______ influences happen outside the home. As scientists study DNA, they are starting to understand better what makes us ______.

typical? (Hi Simom, the last word pronounced very soft, it sounds like tic, is it ok if you could explain a bit?)

and thanks so much for your hard work for me (I am a big fun of the readings and tips on your web),I got reading 7.5 last time, . and I did not pass 7 in listening, I will work harder. thanks for uploading the materials, they are really useful, Chen

1-determined
2-dictate
3-interpret
4-triggered
5-influencing
6-social
7-tick
For Chen: - if you talk about what makes someone tick, you are talking about what makes them behave the way they do
( by the way, it is the same word which it does mean- a written mark to show that something is correct, to put a tick)
Kind regards, Aleksandra

We are all born with certain physical characteristics DETERMINED by our genes. But does our DNA DICTATE how we act? Researchers say that genes help control how we INTERPRET our environment, but can environment influence which genes are TRIGGERED? That leads to debate over the role parents play in INFLUENCING their children. Some believe the stronger SOCIAL influences happen outside the home. As scientists study DNA, they are starting to understand better what makes us TECH.

to Waseem: No, my ex-teacher is a "she" and she is not available online. I was satisfied about the writing I did with her. Otherwise, I struggle on my own with the reading and the listening because what we did at her private office I was capable to do at home. So,I gave up to pay her so much money. When I was preparing with her in speaking, she told me that I will have an 8 , but...I had 6,5. So,...I am a bit disappointed about her...

Listening to this video once more, I think that the last answer perhaps should be sick rather tick, though I still hear the sound tick. However,from the context given, there were mentioned diseases that may occurred as a result of our genes, and we know that it is a fact,so more accurate word, here, seems to be sick. But let's see what is the real answer.

correction-diseases may occur( not may occurred) I don't like my mistakes, even if they are unwilling.

I am happy that I was right listening at the first time giving the answer- tick in the first place, the sound was like a tick. So perhaps we should trust in what we hear if it has a sense.Sometimes too much of analysis may be misleading.

To Lingh:
to interpret our environment means how we see the world around us, how we can explain it, how we can feel in it, how we behave, and how we react towards him, communicate with others,facing and solving problems. Our perception, our understanding,our comprehension depends on many factors, in this video the question is how our genes influence all of this. But it also depends on our previous experience, backgrounds,bringing up, and when we change the environment at school, at work,being at any social situations, when we me meet different cultures all of these factors play the role.
I know that genes are important but I am not enough persuaded when the lady said that parent's influence is so little, not significant to determine children's behaviour. I hope we could do more to help them to develop decently.

Simon,
when i access your listening blog
It is autumatically play all videos at the same time it made very noisy
i want to check seperately.
i'm using mac computer
i don't know is it my computer problems..or did you set up automatically?

Determine
Dictate
Interpret
Triggered
Influence
Social
Tick
Simon I wonna make sure in the real exam is the examiner pay attention the whole alphabet in the world! These are my answers how many of them should be correct in the real exam) thanks beforehand! P.S I would be glad if anyone else could answer to my question)